Staff Favorites - Angie An

Reviews

I love this style of Brunello, filled with leather, earthy and dusty minerality! One of the few 2010 Brunello that is enjoyable right out of the bottle! The wine is aged in big wood and under 700 cases were produced, so if you enjoy a classic, rustic Brunello with plenty of secondary savory characters, you'd better stock up on this one before it's all gone!

20 dollars for a Barolo? I thought it was a typo when I first saw this!! This is a silkier, more elegant Barolo that is ready to drink right out of the bottle. Aromas of cranberry, a slight hint of leather, plus the classic firm tannin structure make this bottle a great buy for those of you who want to try Barolo for the first time without breaking the bank!

Seriously there's NO bad Brunello coming from the 2010 vintage, it's simply a preference of what style you lean towards. In the case of Val di Suga, they've been very consistent through the years, aging their Brunello in both barrique and large barrel making a middle down the road, crowd pleasing and even-keel Brunello showcasing floral, tart cherry and herbal essences nuances. The finish is of green tobacco and soft spices. Great classic Brunello!

As I might have mentioned a couple of times already, there is NO bad Brunello from the 2010 Vintage, just simply a difference in preference. With that said, the Castiglion Del Bosco is EXACTLY what I love in a great Brunello. Sharp, focused, intense nose full of tart red cherries and a light meaty quality, then followed by some fine-grind coffee aromas (which came from the barrique these wines were aged in). I'm usually not a fan of barrique but the Castiglion Del Bosco is wearing it so well, balancing it out with the intense fruit and structure backbone that undoubtedly will make this wines delicious for many MANY more years to come.

This is a warmer, rounder Brunello with generous ripe plum, prune and red cherries. Bold, big and spicy with a long finish. I recommend laying this one down for a few more years and allow it to reach its full potential!

I remember a great Champagne buyer (Gary Westby) once told me, "When it comes to sweet wines, there are only two type of folks, ones who loves it and the ones who are lying." I understand the American wine market is trying to shake out the old stereotypical, cheap and badly made sweet table wines of the past. I see it in the store everyday, whenever someone asks me for a recommendation, it almost always include the line "....oh, and I want it dry!" But just hear me out for a second. The truth is that a little sugar in your wine is not always a bad thing, and when done right it can be an absolutely marvelous thing! Perfect example here is the Michel Loriot Marie Leopold Sec Champagne. Lively aromatics, good solid tight bubbles with fresh citrus, crispy yellow apple and white peach. Just a slight hint of sweetness follow on the tongue that would go PERFECT with dishes as fancy as torchon de foie gras, or as humble as a bag of Lay's original potato chips, or simply enjoy on its own! The sweetness really softens the mouthfeel and makes this Champagne super easy drinking, plus with our direct import pricing makes this bottle is a killer dealer! A must have for this summer! Cheers!

This winery is located close to the western border of the Chianti Classico DOCG, halfway between Florence and Sienna. This is 100% Sangiovese that is super expressive and floral right out of the glass with an elegant touch, warm baking spices notes and good acidity on the back end. This is what I consider a classic example of what Chianti Classico should taste like!

Focused, sharp dark fruit with vivid rose petal aromas upfront followed by solid tannin and a long finish. It's big but balanced and elegant, makes you want to stick your nose back for more of this beautiful symphony of fruit, floral, and structure. Simply stunning!

Pellehaut is probably my favorite Armagnac producer right now. The incredible value-to-quality ratio is simply amazing across the board. I tried the 1994 and 1996 side by side, and boy, they could not be more different. Armagnac often receives the treatment of "ugly redheaded stepsister" compared to Cognac from the region. However, I find Armagnac much more fun. It's focused on the individual characteristics of the vintage more so than house style, and it is rough around the edges and tells a different story every time. With that said, the 1994 is just gorgeous and elegant, with well-integrated notes of caramel, toffee and hints of ripe red apple up front, then a good amount of spice in the palate followed by a smooth, gentle finish. Made of 100% Folle Blanche--amazing bottle!

Let me play out a very common scenario for me here at work. Me: "Hi, can I help you look for anything today?" Customer: "Yes! I'm looking for a gift for a friend, and he's a SUPER wine snob and a huge collector... I really need something that will be impressive, but I don't want to spend a ridiculous amount of money for a cult wine, what do I do?" -- I honestly lost count on how many times I have this conversation in a day, so here is your answer: Bjorn Howell Mountain Cabernet. The most stunning great bottle of mountain Cab I guarantee your wine snob friend hasn't tried before. This SUPER small production (about 300 cases) Cabernet shows all the depth and complexity of Howell Mountain, with tremendous structure and finish, but not in a flashy over the top style. Absolutely worth aging and yes, it will blow your socks off!

A steal for $27.99!! I love a good brandy to sip on after dinner and this is a great way to introduce ANYONE to this wonderful eau de vie. It has fairly good intensity on the nose with almost a salty, savory seaweed aromatic; once on the palate, it shows herbal, floral and tea-like components. Incredibly smooth texture for a young Armagnac, the finish just kept growing in my palate. What a great value for the price!

Pellehaut is probably my favorite Armagnac producer right now. The incredible value-to-quality ratio is simply amazing across the board. I tried the 1994 and 1996 side by side, and boy, they could not be more different. Armagnac often receives the treatment of "ugly redheaded stepsister" compared to Cognac from the region. However, I find Armagnac much more fun. It's focused on the individual characteristics of the vintage more so than house style, and it is rough around the edges and tells a different story every time. With that said, the 1996 is a spicy, muscular one. High intensity on the nose, generous sweet vanilla and cedar oak with HUGE mouthfeel; rustic and complex. Oh, and it will definitely grow some hair on your chest with its 50.4% ABV

This wine took less than two seconds to steal my heart. I personally enjoy having some brett (short for Brettanomyces, a form of yeast that also commonly found in traditional Belgian ales and actually gives Lambic and Gueuze its characteristic and flavor) in my glass giving off that masculine barnyard like, light sweat, leathery note. Then the wine follows up with round and warm spices, a touch of floral and ripe cherry flavors. Yum!

Wow, the intensity on this wine was off the charts! This bottle reminds me of some of the best Right Bank Bordeaux out there. I would NOT hesitate to put this bottle in front of serious Bordeaux lovers, and I am confident it will measure up. The Merlot shows off classic characteristics of black plum, menthol and other herbal notes. Generous and expressive, it explodes out of the glass immediately. The Cabernet Franc rounds out the mid-palate and give it a touch of elegance and violet, keeping the wine polished and structured. Finish with rich cocoa, indicating some form of new oak very well-integrated and not over the top. The wine is still a baby, give it plenty of time in the decanter or let it rest in your cellar for 5 to 10 more years if you have the patience!

Man, the 2010 Brunelli are really as legendary as everyone's been saying. There are literally no bad wines, and the Bellaria is no exception. On the nose this wine shows a warmer, more stew-like fruit characteristic. It's very pleasant and familiar, like a freshly baked fruit cake sitting on grandma's window sill. Then a very slight hint of allspice followed by firm, lasting tannin and long finish. No doubt it will shine even brighter with few more years in the cellar. Cheers!

What a cool rose! Seriously, this wine is too cool for school. Made by the lady who brought you Botanica (50 year old vines, dry-farmed Chenin Blanc from South Africa anyone?). Originally from California, Ginny Povall planted vines and grows flowers around her estate in Devon Valley. The rosé is sourced from her tiny plot of Petit Verdot around the estate. Only 200 cases were produced, and we are lucky enough to be the only merchant in the U.S. to carry a portion of this gem. It's super floral, with hints of chrysanthemum and Oolong tea leaf followed by a very clean finish. I think of dim sum with this wine, it's versatile enough to handle the endless flavor combination of dim sum yet elegant enough not to overpower the dishes. Writing this is making me crave some Fung zao (fried steamed chicken feet) with a bottle of big flower....

Yes! It's finally that time of the year again! Rosé season and upon us once again and Turkey Flat is one of the new rosés you won't want to miss year this. 93% Grenache, 4% Shiraz, 2% Cabernet and 1% Dolcetto. Very juicy fruity, easy on the palate a round, rich texture. When a winery is named "Turkey Flat" you have to be a bit curious--turns out, when the vineyard was first planted in 1847 there used to be flocks of native bush turkey also known as "Australian Bastards" running around. I think Turkey Flat turns out to be a much proper alternative! The wine also has just the slightest hint of sweetness, which would pair awesome with fusion Japanese with some spices, drink up with your spicy tuna maki or dynamite roll!

Loved this rosé last year, and they did it again this year! Elegant, pretty, with light wild strawberry scent, it's simply charming and easy, easy like a Sunday morning hike followed by a picnic with cold cuts sandwiches paired with this. Easy like being out on the patio with your favorite book (or more realistic: your I-Pad) while sipping a glass of this. So many possibilities, not enough summer and weekend!

This is one of the few wines I can actually say "I've been drinking this for a decade!" giving that my entire wine career merely started 11 year ago. This bottle was introduced to me when I was working at a steakhouse, where people are constantly looking for a big robust delicious Cabernet to pair with their aged T-bone, but at a good value (since they are already forking out close to $50.00 for the aged steak). Faust is rich, firm, smooth, super expressive and very consistent year after year, an amazing value for Napa Cabernet under $45!

Cheers to direct import! This is one of our newest gems, discovered by our Rhone wine buyer Keith, and I have to say it's probably my favorite Cote du Rhone at the moment. The vineyards are located in Vinsobres at high elevation, which translates to a more structure-driven rather than fruit-driven style of Rhone blend. It has the black pepper, black olive and smoke meat aromas that I usually relate to Northern Rhone (and which I love.) Beautiful and assertive!! Thank you Keith!

This is a crowd-pleaser and best bang-for-your-buck all day, everyday! Morellino is another word for "brown" or "browning" which is used to describe how Sangiovese grapes look in the region. This tasty bottle has all the classic characters with red cherry, a super easy drinking mouthfeel and nice acidity to pair with your pizza or pasta on a weeknight. This wine always sells out FAST!! (Partially because all of us staff buy it by the case) so grab yours today and give it a try!

If you haven't tried Gruner before you HAVE TO hop on the gruner train and taste it for yourself to see why all the geeky sommeliers and wine lovers are going crazy over this little grape. There is only 50,000 cases of Gruner Veltliner produced world wide with most of it coming out of Austria, with style ranging from crisp and zesty to rich and nutty. The Etz is done in the more zesty, refreshing style, and I will give you 3 simple reasons why you should have this wine in your life. 1. This is the more exotic, fuller and much more fun cousin of Sauvignon Blanc 2. It's one of the very few wines that actually pairs well with asparagus and artichoke (they are a pain to pair with wine!). 3. It's a twist off bottle! and #4. It's in a LITER bottle for only $13.99!!!! Ok, I realize I gave you four instead of three reasons... but hey, I like to over deliver sometimes... enjoy, grab a bottle and cheers!

One of the most serious Rosso di Montalcinos I've tasted. Touch of red clay with lots of earthy mineral characteristics on the nose. The wine is round and warm on the palate with a long lasting finish. To me this is the perfect bottle to introduce others to Brunello without breaking the bank. I am stocking up on this wine to drink while waiting for my 2010 Brunello to age! Bravo!

60% Cabernet and 40% Merlot, this is a bottle I would bring to a sommelier blind tasting if I really want to mess with someone. The wine is dark, powerful, with oak signatures of mocha, chocolate, espresso and nutmeg spices. A touch of pencil shaving that almost brings me to Bordeaux but layers of dark fruits makes me want to say Napa. Either way, the wine is well made and sure to impress your dinner guest if they like full, powerful Cabernet blends.

The only truly unbiased way to judge the quality of a wine is through blind tasting format. Why? Because as much as we think we don't judge a book by its cover, we all do it to a certain degree. I was in a blind tasting group (along with three other advanced sommeliers, and one master sommelier) going through flights of Cabernet Sauvignon without knowing ANYTHING about the wines besides it's made from the Cabernet grape, and we all unanimously gave this wine very high marks before knowing what the bottle was. Some of the notes were "very classically California style" "Very well made" and "great balance of fruit and solid structure." We all thought it was from Napa, most likely from a well-known producer and guessed the price at around $60.00 a bottle. Imagine our pleasant surprise when we find out it was a $20.00 bottle from Paso Robles!!! I will be honest with you here, I would have totally judged this bottle just by its label and the price alone, but I'm glad I actually got a chance to blind taste this and realize what a well-made wine it is! Don't believe me? Buy a bottle and have it in a blind tasting lineup beside other expensive California Cabernet and see what happens. Honestly, my favorite California Cabernet for under $20.00 in the entire store right now!

What a cool wine!! This is a blend of approximately 60% Zinfandel plus a field blend of 14 other grapes including Petite Sirah, Carignane,and Alicante Bouschet. Some of the vines are over a century old! Very fitting for the name "all black" (all red grapes) and just a cool project overall. It's harder and harder these days for grape growers to keep their super-old vineyards (since they don't produce as much fruit) or obscure varietal plantings (they don't sell for as much $ as the popular grapes) so it's nice to see this traditional style of winemaking in this modern bottle. The wine is very lovely and high-toned, with hints of salty meaty notes. touch of spices, ripe cherry and red currants. Very complex and different. Cheers!

Wow, what a tasty Pinot Noir! The Foxen Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir does not see any new oak and is NOT your flashy, overripe, blockbuster style of Pinot at all. If that's the type you are looking for, stop reading this now and try a different wine. However, if you like a Pinot that's more earthy, slightly stemmy (yes I'm making up words here, but you know what I mean) and has a good touch of allspice, you are in for a treat! Very well made old school style indeed.

This vineyard is considered of the best 1er Cru in Chablis, covering about 50ha on the west side of the Serein, just across from where all the Grand Cru vineyards are located. This producer itself is always a classic and what I look for in a bottle of Chablis. On the nose with tart lemon, yellow apple, very obvious chalky, oyster shell type minerality that's unmistakably Chablis (and what makes it so sexy in my opinion). On the palate it's razor sharp, with focused acidity, tons of mineral and an elegant yet long finish. This was the most racy out of all the 2013 Tremblay Chablis we tasted together. I'm definitely more biased toward this style and consider this the best of the lineup.

A top value Williamette Valley Pinot Noir with chunky red fruit, crushed rose potpourri, and a rich mouthfeel. Overall easy drinking wine and makes you want to stick your nose back in over and over for the florals. Yum.

Undeniably a solid, well-structured wine. This mini Super Tuscan at $19.99 a bottle is a long-time favorite of ours and sells out quickly each year. A blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet offer aromas of violet, vivid dark fruit and a touch of leather followed by firm tannin. Grab yours today before it's too late!

A more muscular expression of Chambolle with some leather, earth and a slightly meaty quality, yet the silky and lively finish on the palate is undeniably classic of the region. A few more years in the cellar and the wine should be even more stunning!

Bright, fresh-picked cherries and wild roses with the softest touch of baking spices on the nose; a high-toned and lively personality and an elegant mouthfeel. I just love the subtle beauty of Chambolle-Musigny, and this is a great example.

Sweet black Bing cherry, currants and red plum are followed by vanilla, nutmeg and other baking spices. Intense and muscular on the palate, with a light, smoky finish, this bottle will certainly improve with a few more years in the cellar, and then enjoy it with some black pepper-crushed pork tenderloin for a perfect pairing.

Shows good intensity and liveliness on the nose, with classic, juicy fruit aromas of cherry, strawberry and cranberry sauce; approachable, with hints of rose petal in the background. An easy-drinking wine for every occasion.

This is your no guilt, easy drinking middle of the week wine. Best paired with pizza, burger while watching a zombie movie and relaxing. It's 100% Tempranillo done in a juicy lively style. It doesn't take a sharp zombie to realize it's an awesome value! (pun totally intended)

The people who know my palate and eating habits will say this: "there is nothing she wouldn't try once, and when it comes to wine, the dirtier the better." I had the honor to taste through 15 different vintages of 2000 Bordeaux earlier this week and I have to say the Gruaud Larose (very generously provided by our colleague Sean Fernandez) was right up my alley with the earthy, dusty, forest floor and mineral mouthfeel; it still has so much body and power and could lay down for another 10+ years, in my opinion.

Anderson Valley is a very unique place. It offers possibly one of the coolest climates in California, framed by steep hills. In terms the Pinot Noir from the region (when made by great producers such as Goldeneye, Husch, etc.) has a very focused, pure and lively fruit expression that you just don't find anywhere else, and it usually doesn't come cheap. With that said, the Carpe Diem is a great steal for the quality of the fruit and its full/powerful mouthfeel. "Seize the day" and treat yourself to a powerful Pinot!

I agree with Robert Parker's comment on Robert Craig being one of the most consistent wineries in Napa Valley in both price point and quality. The 2012 is a bit flashier and upfront compared to other vintages, and demands a BIG, MEATY grilled steak (T-bone anyone?) Lots of flavor and full-bodied on the palate. A steal, really, for the quality of Cabernet you are getting in the bottle. Cheers!

If you are still stuck in the mind-set that New Zealand only produces good Sauvignon Blanc, then you are really missing out on some of the most awesome wines coming out of the country! This Bordeaux Blend is structured, balanced and has a touch of that gravelly, pencil shaving note that I usually only find in my $75+ Pauillac Bordeaux. It's drinking solidly and I'm totally impressed by the range of great quality wines New Zealand is putting out in the market. Try it out and see for yourself!

This is what I served for my wedding back in November, 2014. Yes, it would have been great if I could have served Krug for everyone coming to the wedding but being a bride on a budget, I searched long and hard for the best sparkling wine for an amazing price. After a panel tasting (the panel consisted of our bridal party) the Mas Codina came up as the clear winner. Why did we love it so much? Well, a great balance of apple and citrus combined with a light, nutty toasty touch; small, tight bubbles and a smooth + balanced finish was the key. This wine is made in the traditional Champagne style with a fair amount of bottle age on it. Simply amazing value for the top quality of wine you are getting in the bottle. Cheers!

Toasty warm aromas, full of vanilla, sweet tobacco and hints of dark chocolate. Definitely not shy, this bottle is full-bodied, with a strong tannin backbone, could age for a few more years and will pair amazingly with a grilled tomahawk chop!

Simply put, the best value Cabernet for this holiday season. Juicy, fruity and easy-drinking, this is a great choice for holiday parties or to have at home as your everyday Cabernet! Who said you can't find a good bottle of Cabernet for under 10 bucks?

The Oakridge Pinot Noir is really amazing. The Guerin Vineyard displays very nice intensity with a great mixture of fresh, just-ripe fruit aromas with lots of earthy secondary components. For a girl who loves her mineral-driven, earthier style Pinot Noir, this is right up my alley. The wine finishes with soft baking spices and great complexity.

Woo! What a spicy little guy. There's fresh black pepper, green tobacco, dash of green olive notes right off the bat along with the classic raspberry. This is NOT your typical big tannin, high alcohol Australian Shiraz at all, but more reminiscent of a Northern Rhone style. Elegant and classy!

Amici is a family-owned winery which produces premium quality wines at really good prices. This Cabernet is sourced mostly from Rutherford and you can taste the dark cherry and the famous "Rutherford dust" in this bottle. One of the long-time staff favorites, and I'm confident to say that this wine will out-perform most of the $50+ Cabernets out in the market!

It was very hard to pick our favorite Pinot Noir among so many great choices Ici La Bas offers, but at the end we were charmed by this little Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Small dense ripe cherry fruit, very clean and focus. Savory, baking spices (75% new French barrel) and big lush mouthfeel. There is A LOT of flavor pack into the bottle for only $25 bucks; what's not to love?

If the Villa Creek "Willow Creek" is supposed to reflect a Chateauneuf-Du-Pape wine, this Bassetti Vineyard 100% Syrah would certainly reflect a Cornas. Again, made in a more modernistic style. This 9-acre vineyard is located only 4 miles from the ocean. Made with 70% stem inclusion and 20% new oak, the wine offers plenty of intense black olive, pepper, big black fruit and some violet florals. There's a bittersweet chocolate note that came from the oak, finishing with solid tannins. I believe the wine has ageability and will be even more delicious in a few years!